The Marines have a 30% rule. The moment you think your body can't take anymore punishment you're really only 30% done. The human body is capable of enduring and adapting to an amazing amount of physical abuse. If you're reading this.. and you are a human.. yes, I'm talking about you. If you are not human and you're reading this, please contact me. I'm curious.

When it comes to endurance activities, it seems having the mental attitude to keep pushing forward is pretty damn important. I think I achieved some solid mental push-ups the last few days to push myself to get home (AKA Mom's condo in Alsip, IL). I don't think the milage would impress the average cyclist but keep in mind before judging.. I wasn't able to train properly for this trip because of an injury, it's been 16 days of riding and half sleeping on the side of the road or trail and I've got a loaded down bicycle with alllll that stuff.

Back in Missouri when I thought I had made my final decision to turn back, I still had my doubts it was the right one. Even after riding 50 miles back east to St. Charles, MO. I spotted Picasso’s coffeeshop and thought that looks like a good place to get a cup a coffee and think on it. As I stepped in and before the recoiling springs can even close the door behind me, a patron stands up and asks me in a way as if he knows I must have gotten asked his impending question a million times already “OK, where you coming from? Where you going?” I share my new route with him and he seems impressed. I share my original route with him and he seems like most people, speechless. I also share with him my dilemma on not knowing if I should continue or ride back home. My new coffee loving friend Adam, suggests I go down the street and talk to Joey, owner of the outdoor gear store, Take A Hike. He assured me would be a good person to talk to about my problem.

I head over there half expecting Joey to look like some bearded, white robe wearing adventure wizard with some magical walking stick that will reveal my true path. Nope.. he's sporting a T-shirt and ball cap and looks like.. a guy named Joey. As I walk up to the store he swings the door open and says “Come on in man! Adam told me you might be coming by”. In short, he really helped me figure it out. When you're doing something you love whether it be cycling, hiking or surfing, you do it to be in the moment and forget about your problems. Not to dislike the thing you love and create a new set of problems. What a great guy! He even mailed a package back home for me!

Thank you adventure wizard… with the best prices on the internet.

Keeping my promise to stay in contact.. I call my mother and let her know of my new plan. “OK Jimmy, let me know where you are and I'll come pick you up.” Oh God! The last thing I want is my mommy to come pick me up! Because of this and thinking about anyone who didn't believe I could have physically complete this route lit a fire under my ass. OK, let's see what I'm made of then and test myself. How fast can I get home?

I decided not to go back the same way and cross into IL and try and follow old Route 66 home. While free camping with my tarp and sleeping bag, I was able to cover some good distances including 118 & 121 mile rides back to back on my last two days. I fought off more goose attacks and out ran the farm dogs. Plowed through so many bugs along the Mississippi it sounded like it was raining as they collided against my helmet. Rode miles on large rocky gravel roads that had me asking the Lord for relief through my teeth clattering from the vibration. Finding creeks I could filter water from. Getting beat up by the drafts of passing 80mph cars and semis while fighting head winds among huge windmills that gave me the sense in my exhusted delirium that I was golf ball getting wacked around in a giant miniature golf course. Steep 21% grades, and yes, more rain, rain, cold rain right into the night. I tell myself don't stop! Keep this 15mph average I've held in the final few minutes of this final ten hour ride home. Finally arriving on my mom's street of 123rd & Cicero. “I'm gonna do it!” I screamed. With just a quarter mile to go there's a downward slope that allows me to pickup speed and triumphantly finish strong with the idea of turning into the parking lot of my mother's condo complex like some kind of super athletic riding olimpian. Then all of a sudden.. Choo Choo! Ding Ding Ding Ding! Freaking train.. I slowed down, stopped.. and laughed out loud, in the rain, waiting with all the other cars for a very slow moving train to pass by. I wonder what those drivers thought of me?

OK, train gone, I pedal the final few hundred yards. I put my bike in the garage and walk into my Mom's place tired, cold, soaking wet but on a high from my physical achievement yet feeling that I'm 30% done. My mother immediately hands me my mail as if to say, welcome back to the real word, now stop fucking around. My brother is reclining comfortably in a chair, remote in hand and asks, “You wanna watch something on TV man?” And all my nephew is curious about is where did I go ka ka. Yes, it was a hero's welcome.

Side note.. I did arrive before the package Joey mailed for me. It arrived the next morning. Not sure how that speaks of me or the USPS.

About Plan B…
Car + Guitar + Parks = All Smiles

Stats
​Goose attack 3Dog chase 7
Dog attack 0
Human attack 1
Chupacabra sighting 0

Total mileage 1008
Longest days ride 121.6 miles 10hrs
Fastest speed 41.3 mph
​

I had the pleasure of meeting Bandit, my first unleashed bike chasing farm dog yesterday for this tour. For my last tour I rode The Grand IL Trail and was bitten by a dog on my second day and chased twelve more times after that in the period of 10 days. For that I note carry pepper spray and have given myself the riding name, DOGBAIT.
​

I decided it would be worth it to go back over this rather large hill from my campsite back into the town of Hannibal MO for a cup of joe and see Mark Twain's boyhood home. I took all my bags off my bike for this and placed them in my tent going they'd still be there when i got back. OMG, the bike was so light. What a difference!

I had coffee at the very cool very friendly Java Jive.

Sam's home.

With the warm weather brought out the Buffalo Nats here in MO. I put in a second 90 mile day because of them. If i stop, there all over me in a matter of seconds. They seemingly love to go for the eyes and ears. I noticed if riding any slower than 10mph they're more than willing to keep me company. So this makes going up mile long hills all the more challenging.

​I'm just about to climb one of those hills when i hear a dog to my right start to bark. He's with a young boy and i assume his older sister and yes, he unleaded and running for me. I'm not too worried at first because there is a deep ditch separating us and it's only getting deeper as i climb. The kids are screaming, "Bandit! No! Stop!" Bandit has other plans kids. He went right into the ditch and up the steep embankment like it was nothing. I grabbed the pepper spray that's Velcroed to my bike and aimed it at Bandit's border collie head. Now here's the thing, i really like dogs but I'm not going to let one bite me again. I also realize Bandit is just being.. well.. a dog. So, I showed restraint but if he got in reach of me, game on. Thankfully his little game ended. Because i also realize if i have to pepper spray a dog, the real danger is the owners of that dog when they find out and come after me down the road. Then it's, game over.

​OK, back to the hills, nats, and purifying water from some green muddy looking creeks. I need a hotel! I'm dehydrated most of the time and sooo sore. I need a rest day! Not yet.. I'll rest when it's raining. Plus i have to get ahead of the rumors. There's a whispering low growl out on the street, "Dogbait is riding again".

I headed to Nauvoo, IL and found and all you can eat breakfast buffet for $10. I took advantage of this and fed myself breakfast, mid morning snack, lunch, mid afternoon snack, dinner and dessert. Yep, almost threw up while riding later. It's so hard to be vegan when doing something like this but that's for another post. Anyway, it's a nice little town, nice people, is like to go back there sometime.

A town i never want to see again is Quincy, IL. It's heavy on the industrial side and i experienced a few bad things traveling through there but I'll tell you this one. I rode up to a park restroom and remember seeing this guy in a pickup weirdly parked next to it. I took my bike inside with me in went in the open stall ( no door) to do my business. I hear the pickup door slam shut and that dude walks in and pretends to pee, i guess. I'm just glad i can see my bike at this point and know everything is OK. So, he leaves but i can hear him walking around the rest room outside. I can also see his feet through the bar window directly in front of me. Well this guy gets down on all fours to look through it. So here i am sitting there looking at him and him looking at me. I say, "Yo man! What are you doing!" He left in a hurry but i can hear that he's having trouble getting his truck started and i imagined the panic in his little perverted mind. Thankful he was soon on his way and i couldn't get out of there sooner.

​I biked over 90 miles today and crossed into MO! Camping at Mark Twain Cave. It's a new state and a new chapter for this tour. It's been much more challenging than fun but I'm determine to keep pedaling. Dreaming of those mountians and Parks. Treating myself to a glass of wine. Yes, a winery in the campground! :)

I thought I'd have nothing to write about for day one. Boy, was i wrong. Because of some issues with the bike i actually left to start this tour today instead of on April 26th. I'm in my tent in Morris IL at my first free (/totally illegal) campsite as i write this. I have a lot to say but I'll be breif cuz I'm tired.

I've read some books on how other people have biked or hiked across the US and we're in awe of how nice and generous fills were. In fact, that was my experience with my first and only bike tour i did a couple years ago. This time, not so much. At least not day one. So far my guitar got clipped my the mirror of a pickup truck (so that's gone), i was shoved off my bike, had someone pretend they were going to run me over, got garbage thrown at me and also got called an asshole. Yep, it's been a full day. Ugh.. I no it'll get better though.

Anyway, I'm including a pic of my campsite for those who were envious of what I'm doing. Maybe you still are, maybe not. Also for those who think I'm crazy so you can rest asure you were right. Ha..

OK, that's it for now.
​Be kind..

I told you all i had a better map. Haha.. I got these from Adventure Cycling Association. Pricey but awesome! Saved me a lot of time in trying to figure out a safe route. They even list bike shops, grocery stores and campgrounds.